Latest News

Corey Brown will be a new rider for classy Hawkesbury filly Spright – if she resumes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Garry Frazer this morning admitted he was concerned about the predicted return of hot temperatures later in the week more so than the heavy rain which hit Sydney yesterday, forcing a current 'Heavy 9' rating for the track.

“Spright has won a couple of trials on wet ground, although races can often be a different story,” Frazer said. “But the prospect of hot weather again does worry me. I don’t fancy the idea of floating her from Hawkesbury to Randwick in 40-degree heat. I’ll just have to play it by ear and see what happens with the weather.”

Frazer made the riding switch to Brown for the $200,000 Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) when he became aware a couple of weeks ago that Kerrin McEvoy – who partnered Spright in two of her three unbeaten runs last spring – had Caulfield commitments on Saturday.

Brown, based permanently again in Sydney after a successful Singapore sojourn, rode the Hinchinbrook filly when she ran second to Heart Testa in a 1000m barrier trial at Randwick on January 27.

Spright was rested after producing a typically brilliant finish to win the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington on November 3, and has trialled twice in preparation for her return.

“I’m very happy with her progress; she hasn’t gone backwards that’s for sure,” Frazer said. “I haven’t sorted out an alternative race if we don’t run her on Saturday.

“But I will stick with my plan not to give her a busy Sydney autumn. I had hoped to have a shot at the Provincial Championships, but she isn’t eligible. We will definitely look to the Brisbane winter carnival with her.”

Frazer intends nominating Spright for Queensland’s richest open company sprint, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), at Eagle Farm in June.